Bucks County man admits to DUI after crashing in Skippack

COURTHOUSE — A Bucks County man who was injured during a one-vehicle crash in Skippack has admitted that he was driving drunk at the time, reportedly after consuming multiple so-called “Irish Carbomb” drinks.

Trevor Christian Riley, 23, of the 4600 block of Magnolia Avenue, Lower Southampton Township, was sentenced in Montgomery County Court to three-to-23 months in the county jail and 48 hours of community service after he pleaded guilty to a charge of driving under the influence of alcohol in connection with the July 2011 crash on Cross Road in Skippack.

With the charges, authorities alleged Riley’s blood-alcohol content was between 0.18- and 0.22-percent at the time of the crash, which is more than twice the legal driving limit of 0.08 percent. Court documents indicate the incident also represented Riley’s second DUI related offense.

Judge Joseph A. Smyth ordered Riley to undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation and to comply with any treatment recommendations, which could include being paroled directly to an inpatient treatment program, according to court documents. The judge recommended Riley also be subjected to random urinalysis.

Riley, who also is subject to an 18-month license suspension, received credit for time he’s spent in jail since November 2012. Riley also will be required to use an ignition interlock system on his vehicle for 12 months, preventing him from driving if alcohol is detected on his breath, court papers indicate.

An investigation began about 7:20 p.m. July 29, 2011, when state police at Skippack responded to the area of Cross Road, between Skippack Pike and Garges Road, for a report of a single vehicle crash. Upon arrival, police found a red, 1997 Chrysler Sebring just off the roadway in a wooded area.

“The vehicle was upside down and leaning against a tree outside the roadway. The operator was inside the vehicle in the area of the driver’s seat and he was trapped inside,” state police Trooper Derik Frymire wrote in the arrest affidavit, adding the vehicle had “major damage.”

Riley had to be extricated from the vehicle and authorities said he “was in significant pain from his injuries,” court documents indicate.

As emergency personnel assessed his medical needs they asked Riley if he had alcohol or drugs in his system. Riley allegedly stated he had consumed six “Irish Carbombs,” an alcoholic drink comprised of three quarters of a pint of stout beer, one-half shot of Irish cream liquor and one-half shot of Irish whiskey, according to the arrest affidavit.

The investigation determined Riley was traveling southbound on Cross Road in the area of its intersection with Garges Road when he attempted to negotiate a right turn in the roadway but “was traveling at a rate faster than was safe for the roadway conditions,” Frymire alleged. The roadway was wet at the time of the crash, police said.

The vehicle left the roadway and struck an embankment forcing Riley to lose control of the vehicle.

“The Chrysler then rolled over as it exited the roadway. The Chrysler then struck a tree causing the vehicle to come to final rest upside down trapping the operator inside,” Frymire alleged.

A witness, who was traveling north on Cross Road, said he observed Riley’s vehicle traveling south at a high rate of speed shortly after it rained. The witness said Riley was traveling too fast for conditions and too fast to negotiate the sharp turn, court documents indicate.

Riley was transported to Lehigh Valley Hospital for treatment of unspecified injuries. Authorities alleged a blood test uncovered Riley’s elevated blood-alcohol level and linked it to the time of the crash.